Has quick hands and does a nice job initiating contact in pass protection. Shows a nice punch and can get some push in a short-area. Does a nice job getting position as a run blocker and can wall off and redirect defender. Takes good angles and consistently gets position. Plays with very good mean streak and does a good job finishing his blocks. Will put a defender in the dirt. Able to get out on the second level and get the seal against the linebacker. Comfortable working out of the shotgun or in a direct snap in a pro-style offense.

CONS:

Is undersized and gets pushed around a bit in pass protection. Gives up ground and can get bull rushed into the quarterback. Can get overextended there and whiff on assignments. Needs to improve his hand placement as a run blocker. Doesn't always do a good job initiating contact and delivering blow with defender on the second level and can get put on his butt.

OVERVIEW:

Beeler is your classic undersized center, but is an effective blocker because of his mean streak and ability to consistently get position. He's not the best candidate at center, but should have a long productive career at least as a reserve if not as a Todd McClure-esque starter. Started 26 games at center the past two years, after 7 starts at left guard as a sophomore. MIssed 3 games that year due to a high ankle sprain. As a true freshman at Oklahoma in 2006, he started 1 game at center before deciding to transfer due to trying to push himself more academically.

NFL FORECAST:

Beeler is potentially the type of centers that NFL teams love to hate. He's too small, and they are constantly looking for bigger, more physical players. But they can't help but notice how much better their line is when he's in the league. Like Lyle Sendlein and Todd McClure, he can be an effective to good starter. Although he'll never shine because he's a guy that isn't a great matchup in pass protection due to his lacking size. In a zone blocking scheme, he could be good like McClure was. But he can also be an effective man blocker. The key to his success will be whether or not his academic intelligence translates to the next level. If they do, he should spend several years in a starting lineup. He's going to be limited because he's not a good fit in the AFC where he'll face a bunch of 3-4 nose tackles. But if he lands on a zone-blocking NFC team, gets some time to bulk up and get stronger, and gets comfortable in a system, then he should be a solid starter. He could go far for a team like the Redskins that employ the Gibbs-style blocking scheme up front. I don't think he'll ever be considered an elite center, but should be a fairly consistent above average starter as long as he's not facing a ton of 3-4 nose tackles. The main thing that will limit him is the fact that he is not a good candidate to play guard outside such a zone blocking scheme. And thus NFL teams unless they are grooming him to be their starting center in a year or two won't value him as much as a reserve that can play both guard and center. The facts are that there aren't that many reserves that are true centers since teams prefer guys that can play multiple positions as reserves.

ATL FORECAST:

Beeler can be a nice developmental prospect for the Falcons as he's very similar to McClure. Like McClure he can be an effective starter long-term here in our scheme. He could push Hawley for his starting job. He's not as big or strong as Hawley is as a run blocker, and thus probably won't beat him in a direct competition. But would be a good insurance policy. The thing that may limit him is that he isn't a good fit to play guard and thus if he's not starting then the team would prefer a more versatile reserve.

VALUE:

For a team looking for a developmental zone blocking center, he would make a nice seventh round pick. But for most other teams that don't have an opening at the position, probably should wait to sign him as a free agent since he's not a good fit at guard.

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